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(06-07-2021 02:02 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:42 PM)BigBlueMonarch Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:37 PM)Chillie Willie Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:10 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(06-07-2021 01:01 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  The point was that running home is completely pointless. For a tapper back to the pitcher, if he fumbled it and then had an easly play home, Battle would have rightly been crucified. There was zero point in going home on that play. The only thing that could have happened was bad.

While I don't disagree with you about him holding at third on the play as his run meant little at the time, it is wrong to say that the only thing that could have happened was bad. It's not inconceivable that he could have scored which isn't bad.

If by running home he actually forced a play to home by the pitcher, all the better. Because it would have forced a difficult tag play over an easy force out at first. The pitcher would have been crucified, not Battle, even if they actually made the out at home.

When I played baseball, in the stone ages, my coach always said to force them to make a play. Never at fault if you are being aggressive in a game you are losing. If you are tagged out its not like you are killing a rally in a tight game. But I can see it both ways.

Yeah, you do this in little league.

You never, ever...ever...in any circumstances make an out on the bases in the last inning of the game when the run is meaningless. Scoring that run meant nothing. All that matters is avoiding outs. If Battle would have been thrown out at home, he would have been chewed out (rightfully so) by Finwood. That is an inexusable mistake.

This is a mountain out of a molehill. Base to base, no trying to take extra bases, etc. when down more than 1 run. 1 run game...different story. That 1 run doesn't complete a 5 run comeback.

I think you believe too much in absolutes. Yes, you don’t make an out on the bases down multiple runs. But this ball was hit halfway down to first base. If he was on second, wouldn’t he have taken third? I don’t blame him for not going on that play but given how easy an out it should have been to first, any distraction would have been beneficial. Get real, the pitcher had no play at home. Only good could have come from Battle going home. But cautiousness is ingrained in the players so again I don’t blame him. He may not have even been taking a lead to put him in a position to go. It takes quick thinking to understand the situation and the benefit of taking home in that situation. Embrace the molehill.